"Panda Power," a cartoon concept created by Gordon in the 1990s, appeared to bear some resemblance to the characters and plotline of "Kung Fu Panda," but not enough to warrant a false

In 2008, several months before the release of DreamWorks' "Kung Fu Panda," Jayme Gordon caught a glimpse of the movie's trailer, which reminded him of "Panda Power."

"Panda Power," a cartoon concept created by Gordon in the 1990s, appeared to bear some resemblance to the characters and plotline of "Kung Fu Panda." However, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris ruled in court that the resemblance did not warrant a false claim that DreamWorks stole the idea for "Kung Fu Panda" from "Panda Power."

In federal court Wednesday, Gordon, 51, of Randolph, was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay more than $3 million in restitution to DreamWorks after falsely claiming the company stole his ideas and dragging them through a multi-year, multi-million dollar lawsuit.

Authorities say Gordon revised his "Panda Power" drawings and story after watching the 2008 trailer and renamed the concept "Kung Fu Panda Power." 

"He made these revisions as part of his scheme so that his work would appear to be more similar to the DreamWorks pandas he had seen in the movie trailer," the U.S. District Attorney's Office of Massachusetts wrote in a statement.

In 2011, Gordon filed a copyright infringement suit against DreamWorks in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts and tried to get the company to settle the suit for $12 million, an offer which they declined.

Authorities say Gordon intentionally deleted relevant evidence on his computer, fabricated sketches and backdated several pieces of work to make his claim seem more legitimate. 

Gordon's argument fell apart when it was revealed in court that some of his "Panda Power" drawings were actually traced from a Disney coloring book. Gordon had dated these particular sketches to 1992 or 1993, but the book had not been published until 1996. 

Gordon agreed to drop the suit after DreamWorks discovered the tracings, but by this point, the company had already spent more than two years and approximately $3 million defending the suit. 

At trial, authorities said Gordon testified that he did not trace his drawings from the Disney coloring book and that Disney had also copied his ideas. He went as far as to claim that DreamWorks and Disney had actually copied characters ideas for "The Incredibles," "A Bug's Life," "MegaMind" and "Flushed Away."

Gordon was later charged with four counts of wire fraud and three counts of perjury, which a jury found him guilty of in 2016. 

In addition to his prison time and restitution, Gordon will have to serve three years of supervised release after prison. 

No injuries were reported in the early Thursday blaze at 127 Parkside St.

SPRINGFIELD - No injuries were reported following an early Thursday basement fire in the Liberty Heights neighborhood that displaced four.

Firefighters were summoned to 127 Parkside St., shortly before 2:50 a.m., Dennis Leger, aide to Commissioner Joseph Conant, said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Springfield Arson & Bomb Squad. Damage is estimated at $25,000.

The American Red Cross is assisting those displaced.

The suspect, 39-year-old James Gaffey, who was later arrested, faces numerous charges, including wanton/reckless behavior creating risk of serious bodily injury to a child, according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

GREENFIELD -- A Camp Avenue man had a child in his pickup truck Thursday night when he fled from police during an attempted traffic stop downtown.

The suspect, 39-year-old James Gaffey, who was later arrested, faces numerous charges, including wanton/reckless behavior creating risk of serious bodily injury to a child, according to a post on the department's Facebook page.

The chase began about 8 p.m. when Officer Justin Purinton saw a red pickup with number plate violations fail to stop for a red light at Bank Row and Main Street.

When Purinton activated his emergency lights, the suspect accelerated east on Main Street and then turned left onto Franklin Street, "all while clearly attempting to elude him and failing to stop," according to the post.

Purington found the pickup a short time later in the parking lot of a medical building at 48 Sanderson St.

Police found and arrested Gaffey after a brief investigation and learned that a child had been in the pickup with him when he fled police.

More than 500 guests attended the awards ceremony honoring 42 teachers for excellence

HOLYOKE - The Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards honored 42 teachers from western Hampden County at a banquet at Log Cabin on Wednesday evening.

The annual awards are given to teachers throughout the Pioneer Valley, chosen by a committee of school administrators and past recipients based on: excellence in teaching, professional development, community outreach, attendance, and respect by peers, parents and students.

"I am thrilled to be here in the second of three celebratory banquets that make everyone feel wonderful about education in our valley," Susan Kline, director of the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards Program, said in welcoming the more than 500 guests in attendance.

A partnership of the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, MassMutual Life Insurance Co. and the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, the awards program is marking its 15^th year, Kline said. The program has recognized 1,800 educators since 2003.

A total of 128 winning educators from Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden Counties have been designated as recipients of $250 prizes. For the first time, an additional $250 Classroom Innovator prize will be given to 38 winners who submitted in advance a project-based learning idea to be carried out with their students according to certain guidelines.

Teachers from eastern Hampden County will be honored at a banquet at the Log Cabin on May 11.

Winners for 2017 from western Hampden County were:

Agawam Public Schools: Susan Aubrey, Benjamin J. Phelps School; Stephanie Harris, Agawam Junior High School; Rebecca Osborn, Roberta G. Doering School; Ray Peters, Agawam High School; and Mary Purdy, Agawam High School;

Catholic schools: Michelle Castonguay, St. Thomas the Apostle School; Kathleen Hutchison, St. John the Baptist School; Katelyn Kurpaska, St. Joan of Arc School; and Gayle Pula, Mater Dolorosa School;

Chicopee Public Schools: Jill Illuzzi, Robert R. Litwin Elementary School; Abbie Meulemans, Anna E. Barry Elementary School; Christine Moran Oliver, Bowie Memorial Elementary; Barbara Moskal, Dupont Middle School; Sabrina Pudelko, Szetela Early Childhood School; Paige Sullivan, Fairview Elementary School; Midje Theulen, Chicopee High School; Jennifer Vaughan, Lamert-Lavoie Memorial Elementary; and Dianne Vecchiarelli, Chicopee High School;

Holyoke Community Charter School: Matthew Lacasse;

Holyoke Public Schools: Trishe Belloma, William G. Morgan School; Michael Cotto, Holyoke High School; Kerry Gallagher, E.N. White School; Cynthia Gerena, Dr. Marcella R. Kelly School; Marcus Holt, William J. Dean Technical High School; and Kathleen Plasse, Maurice A. Donahue School;

Jewish schools: Rebecca Lederman, Lander Grinspoon Academy;

Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District: Morgan Gall, Southwick Regional School; Emily Tampone, Woodland School; and Erin Wilson, Southwick Regional School;

West Springfield Public Schools: Andrew Bell, West Springfield High School; Lynne Birks, John R. Fausey Elementary School; Brendan Landers, West Springfield Middlw School; Adriana Lugo-Zayas, West Springfield High School; and Susan Messier, Cowing School;

Westfield Public Schools: Anne Frantini, Westfield Middle School North; Rebecca Rulton, Southampton Road School; Sandra Guilbert, Fort Meadow School Early Childhood Center; Debra Horton, Highland Elementary School; Janice Longstreeth, Paper Mill Elementary School; and Lauren Pandolfi, Franklin Avenue Elementary School;

White Oak School: Brenda Carey.

The most recent break-in occurred early Wednesday at the Shaker Bowl on Shaker Road. The suspects used a torch to cut into an ATM inside the business.

George Graham | ggraham@repub.com 

EAST LONGMEADOW -- Police are seeking the public's help as they investigate recent break-ins to a Dunkin Donuts and the Shaker Bowl.

Police say the two are not related. The Dunkin Donuts break-in, however, may be related to a string of similar break-ins to Dunkin Donuts shops throughout the region.

During the Shaker Bowl break-in, which occurred early Wednesday, one or more suspects forced their way into the Shaker Road bowling alley and used a torch of some kind to break into a ATM, Sgt. Steven Manning said.

They made off with an undetermined amount of cash.

The break-in to the Maple Street Dunkin Donuts occurred in the early morning hours of April 18.

"They forced their way in through the door and went into the register and the office and were able to take an undisclosed amount of money," Manning said.

Police want business owners to be aware of the break-ins and to check their security systems and make sure they are operating properly, Manning said.

Those with information on the break-ins are asked to call police at 413-525-5440. Those who wish to remain anonymous can use the department's anonymous tip line at 413-486-9005.

"It's just a recording, nobody will answer the phone. If they want to leave a number they can but it's not required," Manning said.

Police spotted the 2007 Cadillac SRX, which had a large crack in the windshield, driving down Keith Street early Wednesday night.

SPRINGFIELD - A Cadillac with a cracked windshield, spotted by C3 police officers in the Forest Park neighborhood early Wednesday night, led to the arrest of its driver and the confiscation of a loaded .38 caliber revolver.

Manuel Torres, 19, of 40 Byers Street,

was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a cracked windshield, failed motor vehicle inspection sticker, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, carrying a loaded firearm, improper storage of a firearm.

Officers Anthony Kelliher and Chad Joseph, members of the South C3 Police Unit, were on patrol in the area of Keith Street when they observed a 2007 Cadillac SRX driving down the street with a large crack in the windshield, Sgt. John Delaney said.

The officers ran the plate and determined that the car failed inspection, Delaney, public information officer for the department, said.

The firearm did not come back as reported stolen.

This evening's Agawam Candidate Convention could provide an opportunity for Agawam City Council President James P. Cichetti to talk about his decision to challenge Mayor Richard A. Cohen.

AGAWAM -- This evening's Agawam Candidate Convention could provide an opportunity for Agawam City Council President James P. Cichetti to talk up his candidacy for mayor.

Cichetti, a veteran local politician, sent out e-vites Wednesday for his upcoming campaign kickoff. He plans to challenge Agawam Mayor Richard A. Cohen, who is serving his eighth term as mayor of this city of almost 29,000.

Cichetti, who could not immediately be reached for comment, is among those scheduled to attend the Candidate Convention. The event runs from 6-8 p.m. at Agawam Legion Post 185, which is located at 478 Springfield St. in the Feeding Hills section of the city.

Cichetti is expected to deliver a talk on "How to Campaign Fundraise," according to Will Clark, one of the organizers of the event. Other speakers scheduled to talk at the convention are as follows:

• Michael J. Ballway, managing editor of the Agawam Advertiser, will speak about media relations and press releases;
• Corinne Wingard will discuss the basics of the Community Preservation Act and housing issues;
• Stephen Roth will give an overview of Agawam's growth and sustainability;
• and Maria Botta Bruneau will lead group discussions on Agawam's schools.

Clark has more information at 413-363-2326 or william@secondwindyoga.com.

Meanwhile, Cichetti's campaign kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at the Crestview Country Club, 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam.

Cichetti is among those who have criticized Cohen for supporting a multimillion-dollar plan to revitalize the rundown Walnut Street Extension business district.

"The project did not contain any actual business revitalization, nor did it include anything whatsoever about the Games & Lanes parcel," Cichetti said, referring to the contaminated site, which is undergoing environmental remediation.

"The term used was, 'If you build it, they will come.' This is a great movie line but really cannot be the basis of our capital planning, can it?" Cichetti said.

"What has become so completely clear over these past few months is that we can no longer wait for proactive leadership," Cichetti said.

Mary MacInnes retired April 28 after 10 years in the drivers seat of the regional transit authority.

SPRINGFIELD -- The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Advisory Board has selected Sandra E. Sheehan of Hampden as the agency's next administrator.

"The Advisory Board was very impressed with Ms. Sheehan and strongly supported offering her the Administrator position," said Mayor David Narkewicz of Northampton, chairman of the PVTA Advisory Board. "We felt that she has the right mix of transit industry experience, leadership skills, and local knowledge to lead the PVTA as it faces new challenges in the coming years."

The board officially hired Sheehan Tuesday during a special meeting at the Holyoke Transportation Center, according to a news release. The Advisory Board interviewed Sheehan and two other finalists--Patricia O'Leary, PVTA's Chief Financial Officer; and Dana Roscoe, a principal planner with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.

Following the interviews, the board chose Sheehan in a near unanimous vote to be the next administrator.

She will succeed Mary MacInnes, who retired April 28 and was the PVTA administrator for the past 10 years.

Sheehan is director of grants and contract administration for the Greater Hartford Transit District in Connecticut.

Prior to that, she was PVTA's director of transit and procurement from 1994 to 2007, as well as a transportation planner with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission from 1991 to 1994.

During her interview, Sheehan said she would focus on transitioning PVTA's Springfield hub to Union Station, which starts June 25, as well as managing the construction of PVTA's new $55 million bus operations and maintenance facility on Cottage Street in Springfield. The maintenance facility is due to open in late 2018.

PVTA's Chief Information Officer Carolyn Hart-Lucien will continue to serve as acting administrator until Sheehan assumes her new post, which is expected to take place within four-to-six weeks.

MacInnes was paid $137,000 a year. The PVTA, which is used by 12 million riders a year, services Hampden and Hampshire counties including high traffic Springfield, Northampton and Amherst with special service at the University of Massachusetts. The PVTA has an annual budget of $47.2 million.

Dillinger died Friday in an off-campus residence.

AMHERST -- Friends of Dillinger Perez are sharing their sadness about his passing Friday, recalling a formidable athlete with an ambition to become a teacher at his high school alma mater. 

Perez, 19, a University of Massachusetts sophomore, died Friday in an off-campus residence. His family has asked that services for the Springfield resident be private for family and close friends.

No foul play is suspected, and the cause of death has not been released. Mary Carey, spokeswoman for the Northwestern district attorney's office, said the Massachusetts State Police unit assigned to the DA's office is investigating.  

Perez was a history major at UMass and an active member on the Rugby Club Sport Team. He attended Cathedral High School in Springfield and Wilbraham & Monson Academy in Wilbraham.

"He was the type of kid on the rugby field -- you hated him," said Matt McCarthy, a friend who played against Perez in high school and then with him at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, New York, and UMass, where they both transferred in the fall. "He was one of the toughest players, the hardest hitting, the best smack-talking kid I ever played" with or against.

Off the field, McCarthy said, "You couldn't wipe the smile off his face. He was always making a joke. He  never took life too seriously. He helped people to do the same."

McCarthy said Perez loved history and also liked the idea of being a teacher. His dream was to return to Wilbraham & Monson Academy to teach.

A message posted to the school's Facebook page read, "It is with immeasurable sadness that our WMA family mourns the loss of Dillinger Perez '15 who passed away in Amherst on Friday."

"We are keeping Dillinger's family in our thoughts and prayers and hope they find comfort in his memory and celebration of his life," the message continued.

On Facebook Olivia Neiswanger, a friend of Perez, also remembered his smile. "You always knew how to make everyone smile," she wrote. "You will be missed."

Friend Josh VanVoorhis also wrote on Facebook, "you were like an older brother to me, part of the crew...Raise some hell up their kid. You will be missed."

McCarthy said UMass have officials have been "great," providing support and counseling to the team and Perez's roommates.

"Rugby teams are a brotherhood," he said. "Dillinger was a part of the brotherhood."

Promising to "protect and vigorously promote religious liberty," President Donald Trump took executive action Thursday to ease restrictions on churches and charities' political activity.

Promising to "protect and vigorously promote religious liberty," President Donald Trump took executive action Thursday to ease restrictions on churches and religious organizations' political activity.

The president signed the "Executive Order on Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty," during a National Day of Prayer event at the White House.

The order, which Trump endorsed after meeting with Catholic Cardinals and leaders, targets a federal tax code provision, known as the Johnson Amendment, that bars churches and other tax-exempt religious organizations from directly endorsing or opposing political candidates.

It calls on the Internal Revenue Service to use "maximum enforcement discretion" and not pursue clergy political activism cases and instructs the Department of Justice to develop new rules to ensure religious protections are afforded to all Americans.

Trump said the order aims to protect religious liberty in America, stressing that his administration "will not allow people of faith to be targeted, bullied or silenced anymore."

"For too long the federal government has used the power of the state as a weapon against people of faith," he said during remarks in the Rose Garden.

The president, who noted that he was making good on a campaign trail pledge, contended that his order will end the Johnson Amendment's "financial threat against the faith community."

"With his executive order we are ending the attacks on your religious leaders and proudly reaffirm America's role as a nation that protects religious freedom for everyone," he said.

The executive action represents a largely scaled-back version of an alleged draft order that surfaced in February.

Under that controversial proposal, churches, religious colleges and some privately held businesses would have been allowed to stop providing insurance coverage for contraceptives for religious reasons.

The draft also could have allowed: adoption agencies to avoid placing children with same-sex couples; hospice providers to refuse visitation to same-sex spouses; and housing programs that receive federal dollars to not accept gay, lesbian or bisexual teens, according to the New York Times.

White House officials told reporters late Wednesday that Thursday's executive order does not address any issues of discrimination against the LGBT community or others, the newspaper noted.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Circus organizers said going animal-free was an experiment that failed, and last year's attendance suffered with no animal acts.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - When the annual Melha Shrine Circus opens its annual 4-day run on Thursday, animal acts will make their return after a one-year hiatus.

Susan Swain in the tiger suit and Carolyn Camden, members of Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates, protest outside the Melha Shrine Circus in this undated photo supplied by the group. The group says it intends to demonstrate before performaces of the Melha Shrine Circus to protest the circus bringing back animal acts. Submitted photo 

And with the animal acts come the animal-rights activists.

Members of the group Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates say they intend to be at the circus each day to demonstrate against the decision to bring back animals.

Organizer Sheryl Becker said that on opening night on Thursday a dozen or so supporters will be on hand to present the circus with petition signed by people opposing the animal acts in the circus.

The online petition, which has attracted more than 108,000 signatures, will be printed out and delivered prior to the 7 p.m. show on Thursday, she said.

They will also be at the front gate of the Big E roughly an hour before each show handing out informational flyers to people coming to the show, she said.

"We're trying to get the Shriners to do the right thing," she said.

The right thing, she said, would be for the Shriners to do what they did last year: discontinue booking animal acts for the circus.

When the circus opens Thursday night at the Eastern States fairgrounds in West Springfield, the show will go on with the usual collections of acrobats, jugglers and clowns - but there will also be animals performing. Among the acts booked for the show are The Hamid Elephants, Vincent Von Duke Tigers and Neecha Braun and her Amazing Dobermans.

A year ago, organizers said going animal-free was "a way to keep up with modern times." One year later, animals are back following what long-time Melha Shrine Circus chairman Al Zippen is now calling a failed "experiment."

Last year the circus, which is a major fundraiser for the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield, lost money for the first time.

Zippen said he sympathizes with the animal rights people but said the circus is doing what it needs to do in order for the show to go on.

The circus in 2016 announced it would buck tradition by not having any animal acts. But once they tallied up the gate receipts, the Shriners quickly realized it was they who very nearly got bucked.

"It was an experiment that we tried," he said. "We tried it. We wanted to see the impact."

The impact afterward was pretty clear, he said.

"We usually attract 21,000 to 22,000. Last year we were down (by) 6,500," he said. "That's a lot of people."

Going animal-free amounted to a referendum of sorts, he said. The votes were tallied in the box office, and the results were clear: bring back the animal acts, he said.

"We tried it, we lost too many people," he said. "It sent out a message."

The animal acts that are booked all have the reputation for treating their animals well, he said. The Shriners also require certain conditions to ensure the animals are well cared for.

Becker said her organization, Western Massachusetts Animal Rights Advocates  last year applauded the Melha Shrine Circus for announcing the show would go on without captive tigers, elephants or dancing dogs.

"It was wonderful," she said.

She said she went to the circus in several years for the first time as a patron, and a lot of other people did too.  She said there were many in the crowd who came out, like her, to see a circus without any animals.

She said she also applauds the fund-raising the Shriners do for the children's hospital, but can't support them fully until they stop exploiting animals. She cited Cirque De Soleil and Circus Smirkus as two successful circuses that still draw people despite no animal acts.

"There are tons of cruelty-free options for circuses nowadays. The Melha Shriners just need to keep modernizing it and progressing, not regressing," she said.

Two candidates are seeking the open board of selectman's seat. They are Glen N. Sexton of 53 Amherst St., and Jennifer Silva of 16 Aldrich St.

Louis Barry (REPUBLICAN FILE) 

GRANBY -- Selectman Louis Barry is not seeking re-election.

Barry previously served as the town's police chief for 23 years, retiring in 2010, then ran for a seat on the select board.

Two candidates are seeking the open seat on the board: Glen N. Sexton of 53 Amherst St., and Jennifer Silva of 16 Aldrich St.

The select board race is the only seat being contested in this year's annual election.

A ballot question -- a Proposition 2-1/2 "underride" -- asks voters to decreases taxes by $30,000 per year.

If approved, the tax decrease would take effect on July 1.

Granby voters go to the polls on May 15.

Driving an improperly buckled 2-year-old while drunk and "all over the road" are offenses for which a Westfield man will spend the next year on probation.

A Westfield grandfather will spend the next year on probation after he was caught driving drunk with his 2-year-old grandson in his car.

Robert S. Serre, 57, was charged with driving drunk and motor vehicle violations after he was pulled over in Southampton a year ago.

A Breathalyzer test placed Serre's blood alcohol content at .28, which is nearly four times the legal limit, when police stopped him for driving erratically May 2016 on Pomeroy Meadow Road in Southampton. 

The 57-year-old's 2-year-old grandson was in the "front seat of the vehicle without a car seat installed and the seatbelt located across his face and neck," according to a police report.

The child should have been in a car seat and in the back of the vehicle, according to state law. Before stopping Serre's vehicle, a Dodge, police observed it driving in the middle of the road "for an extended distance" and then whip back and almost strike the curb, reports state. 

Officer Robert St. Martin goes on to say he filed a suspected abuse report with the Holyoke office of the Department of Children and Families in connection with the incident. 

Serre appeared in Northampton District Court on Wednesday, where he admitted to sufficient facts to a drunk driving charge and pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment of a child. 

Springfield's Mary Jane Makes Your Heart Sing cannabis supply store is back in business.

Springfield's Mary Jane Makes Your Heart Sing cannabis supply store is back in business -- without the marijuana giveaways that led to a police crackdown two months ago.

"The main goal is basically to build a store with products. We don't have the samples," owner Charles Christian Jr. said in an interview. "We know there are quite a few individuals who come to the store looking for the samples. We do not have those anymore."

Before its closure in early March, Mary Jane Makes Your Heart Sing charged a $20 admission fee, which came with a "free" gram of marijuana or a cannabis edible and could be applied to the accessories and apparel on sale in the store. A VIP entry, for $50, came with three samples.

At the time, Christian said he believed the store's samples were legal gifts under Massachusetts' new recreational marijuana laws. Since Dec. 15 the personal possession of up to an ounce of cannabis has been legal in Massachusetts, and the same amount can be given as a gift without running afoul of the law.

But city authorities did not see it that way. Sales of the drug are still illegal and punishable by up to two and a half years in prison, and in early March the Springfield police department handed Christian a cease-and-desist order, leading to the temporary closure of the business.

Word had quickly spread of the store's marijuana samples, drawing excited crowds who waited in a line that stretched past an adjacent pet fish store toward the intersection of Page Boulevard and Berkshire Avenue.

Those days, however, are over. The store is no longer distributing samples or charging an entrance fee, Christian said, and has not had any contact with city or state authorities since reopening.

"A lot of customers are expecting to get samples of marijuana," he said. "It's something I want to make sure everybody knows. That model is done."

Now, the store operates much like any other head shop. There are pipes, rolling papers, incense and vape supplies for sale, and Christian is attempting to rebuild his customer base.

"Now the goal is to run the retail store and also offer a membership or maybe some classes - some grow classes," he said.

It is those grow classes, which Christian hopes to launch in the next month, that could become the future of the business.

Christian sees growing as an expanding market, now that personal possession of marijuana plants is legal in Massachusetts. But growing requires technical expertise that many marijuana users lack, and Christian hopes to offer classes to teach people the skills to develop their own plants.

"Some of the customers have come in here and they thought it was a great idea," he said. "People want to grow their own, they just don't know where to start."

Christian is still working out the details, including a curriculum and pricing. He has lined up a grower to teach the classes, he said.

With the growing classes, he hopes to draw those customers back -- even without the giveaways of Strawberry Haze and Pineapple Kush.

"Business is slow, obviously, compared to what it was before. We don't have the lines going out the door," Christian said. It's almost like starting brand new again."

Stores with a license from a state Cannabis Control Commission will be allowed to sell marijuana under the terms of the legalization ballot referendum, but those approvals were pushed back to mid-2018 by a law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in December.

When the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board has determined that the risk of reoffense is high and the degree of dangerousness posed to the public is such that a substantial public safety interest is served by active dissemination, it shall give a level 3 designation to the sex offender.

Amherst Town Meeting Wednesday night agreed to borrow $250,000 to pay for the first leg of a feasibility study that would look into renovating the Fort River Elementary School.

AMHERST -- It's not a new school, but it is a step.

Town Meeting Wednesday night agreed to borrow $250,000 to pay for the first leg of a feasibility study that would look into renovating the Fort River Elementary School.

 "This is an excellent next step and does help," Interim School Superintendent Michael Morris wrote in an email.

The move to fund a feasibility study comes after the proposal to fund a project that would house two schools in a new building failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority at the town's March election, which would have overturned an earlier Town Meeting vote rejecting the project.

School officials had been working to address ongoing issues at both the Fort River and Wildwood elementary schools for several years.

Now the process will take even longer.  

The initial feasibility study phase could take between 16 to 20 months, according to a chart Morris produced, and the next phase another eight months to a year.

That's when a full schematic would be needed at a cost of about $475,000.  

For now, Morris said the $250,000 is enough "to get started and have questions answered about the site and cost at Fort River that can inform future decisions for the Town."

Morris said the School Committee will talk about what happens next at its next meeting, but according to the chart, a building committee would need to be created as one of the initial phases.

Police believe the suspects fled in a newer model Toyota Prius.

BRIMFIELD -- Police are seeking the public's help as they investigate the theft of a cash register and other items from the Brimfield Market early Wednesday.

Two suspects, who wore gloves and masks, smashed the front door of the market at 13 Main St. about 4 a.m.

Police believe the suspects fled in a newer model Toyota Prius. The investigating officer, Ryan Olszta, said it's possible, however, they fled in another type of Toyota. The vehicle is gray and its license plate was concealed.

The suspects also took cartons and individual packs of cigarettes, approximately 20 bottles of alcohol and rolled coins.

Police posted surveillance images of the suspects and their car on their Facebook page. Olszta said police are following through on a number of tips.

Those with information are asked to call Olszta at 413-245-3442.

Mayor William C. Reichelt will formally launch his re-election bid at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 4, 2017, at the Dante Club, 1198 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.

WEST SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor William C. Reichelt will formally launch his re-election bid today at 5 p.m. at the Dante Club at 1198 Memorial Ave. in West Springfield.

The 2-hour campaign kickoff event is a chance to hear the 30-year-old mayor's vision for his second term.

"Hope to see you all tonight," he said in a Facebook post Thursday morning.

Reichelt, a political independent, began his current two-year term in January 2016. The term of mayor has since been extended to four years, however, following a citywide vote in November 2016. The first four-year mayoral term begins in January 2018.

Reichelt has been touting two consecutive budget proposals that do not raise taxes for city residents. Earlier this week, he submitted his fiscal year 2018 operating budget to the Town Council, which will hold a public hearing on the spending plan May 15.

The proposed budget includes hiring eight new police officers without raising taxes or cutting existing services, Reichelt said.

Other accomplishments that the mayor is proud of, he said, include his ongoing push to increase accountability and transparency across all city departments; his economic development and anti-blight campaigns; his effort to update, modernize and streamline the city's zoning bylaws and permitting process; and his embrace of green energy solutions to save the city money over the long haul.

Another development since Reichelt took office has been the effort to professionalize the position of mayor by boosting the job's annual salary from $110,000 to $125,000.

In December 2016, the nine-member Town Council voted 5-2, with two councilors absent, to approve the pay raise. Councilors reasoned that offering more money would likely translate into more highly qualified candidates running for mayor.

Meanwhile, proponents of extending the term of mayor -- roughly 62 percent of West Side voters supported the measure -- argued that switching to a four-year term would give a mayor more time to spend on official duties, rather than worrying about campaigning for re-election halfway through a two-year term.

Before becoming mayor, Reichelt, a lawyer by trade, served as legal counsel in both Agawam and West Springfield.

Bridge Home Inc. is seeking to sell its property at 1090 Worthington St. in the McKnight neighborhood just months after being approved for a sober house.

SPRINGFIELD -- Bridge Home Inc., which last fall gained city approval to open a sober house at 1090 Worthington St. in the McKnight neighborhood, has decided to sell the property. The proposal faced opposition from many neighbors.

Bridge Home recently listed the property for sale with an asking price of $325,000.

"The property is on the market," said William Cosgriff, director of education and support for the Bridge Home. "That's what's going on. We're selling the property."

Cosgriff refused any additional comment, including if the sober house program was in operation.

Bridge Home Inc. purchased the property in July for $389,000 from Stephen and Gayle White, according to city records. Bridge Home began distributing information in August about its plans for a new residential substance abuse recovery program at the house, pledging to be a "good neighbor."

Many residents raised concerns and objections, some saying the neighborhood had more than its fair share of group homes and halfway houses.

City officials said a special permit was not needed, and approved site plans in October. However, there were multiple conditions attached by the city including that Bridge Home could have no more than eight residents.

The Bridge Home had planned to serve up to 16 male residents in its live-in recovery program, but then agreed to the limit of eight residents during discussions with the city about limited parking, said Philip Dromey, the city's deputy director of planning.

The house was constructed in 1899, and the property has an assessed value of $327,000, according to city records.

This story will be updated as reporting continues.

TigerPress moved to East Longmeadow five years ago and now has 85 employees.

EAST LONGMEADOW -- Buying the electric power generated by TigerPress' new 653-kilowatt rooftop solar array would cost the commercial printer $100,000.

Taking that into consideration along with the tax breaks and green energy incentives offered by the state and federal governments, as well as and the ability to depreciate the equipment for tax purposes, and the decision to invest $1.5 million in the solar array was easy to make, owner Reza Shafii said.

"We always wanted to do green and environmentally friendly printing," said Shafii, who owns the company with wife, Jennifer Shafii.

TigerPress isn't the first local company to add solar equipment to its factory. Sullivan Paper in West Springfield and Smith & Wesson in Springfield have already done so.

TigerPress and New York-based EnterSolar, which designed and implemented the project, hosted a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and tours Thursday.

The 2,500 solar panels went into operation at the beginning of the year, Shaffi said. The system is expected to generate 750,000 kilowatt hours of electricity this year, or about 70 percent of what the TigerPress will need.

A killowatt hour is a unit of measurement that equals the amount of energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for an hour. 

A kilowatt is a measure of power demand at any given time.

The average suburban home uses about 10,812 kilowatt hours of electricity a year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

According to its website, EnterSolar has completed numerous solar projects around the Northeast including a 655-kilowatt ground mounted solar system for Big Y in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, a 1,400-kilowatt roof-mounted solar system for Allied Printing in Manchester, Connecticut, and a 202-kilowatt solar system for The Hartford in Windsor, Connecticut.

The Shaffis founded TigerPress in 1985 as Copy Cat print shop in Amherst. The business grew into commercial printing locations in Deerfield and Northampton before moving to East Longmeadow five years ago.

Today, it has a 100,000-square-foot facility with 85 employees and prints items such as pharmaceutical packaging, six-pack holders for small breweries, advertising mailers, scorecards for golf courses, books with small print runs and its own magazine for the pageant industry called Supermodels Unlimited.